Tube cleaner



J. P. RODGERS TUBE CLEANER July3,192s. 1,676,157

Filed April 9, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented .lu-ly 3, 1928.

' Urrea JAMES P. RODGERS, OF PITTSBURGH, FENNSYLLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOELLIOTT COH- l F] PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA., A CORPORATION lOIE' PENNSYLVANIA..

'ruina` CLEANER'.

Application led April 9, 1924. Serial No. 705,209.

The present invention'relates broadly tothe art of tube cleaningapparatus, and more particularly to an improved formof cleaner or thispurpose. I It is customary at the present time to construct tubecleaners having pivotally mounted cleaning elements adapted to swingeutwardly, due to centrifugal force, and by a vseries of blows loosenthe scaleA or'deposit on the inside of boiler tubes. It is one of.

the objects of the present invention to provide a cleaner of thisgeneral character in which the cleaning elements have a greater freedomof movement, permitting themto assume any desired angular positionrelatlve to thelongitudinal axis of the tube being cleaned.V v

In the accompanying drawings, there v1s shown for pur oses ofillustration only, one embodiment o the present invention, it beingunderstood that the drawings do not de, fine the limits of theinvention, as changes may be made in the construction and operationtherein disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention orscope of the broader claims. In these drawings:

Figure 1.v is a longitudinal-sectional view l through a cleanerembodying the present invention showing the-parts in assembled rela- $0'tionship and in operative posltion on a drivthere may be provided anelongated cleaner head 2 having a Abody portion of generally triangularsection, as illustratedin dotted lines in Figures 4 and 5. At itsforward end the body-isprovided with a series of- 5o uniformly spacedprojections 3', `referably extending 'substantially radially o the bodopposite the substantially flat sides thereo 'bearing 11 similarto thebearings 4 in the l with the element 14 thereon is then andeach'providedwith an elongated bearmg 4. Adjacent its rear end, the bodyis formed with. a series of similar projections 5, having, however,slotted bearings 6 formed therein and extending through the endsthereof.- 'Extending to the rear of the cleaner head is a substantiallycylindrical portion 7, internally threaded to receive one end of asuitable drivin member 8 and externally shaped to slida 1y receive akeeper comprising a central hub 9 anda series of radlatlng arms 10, eachprovided with. a

projections 3. l The cleaning elements preferably comprise a plurality-of pins 12, corresponding in number to the projections 3 and having aforwardly converging enlargement 13 on one end thereof. Each of thesepins is adapted to receive a generally conically shaped cleanlng-elementor cutter 14, adapted to rotate thereon and to directly abut at one endagainst the shoulder formed'by the enlargement 13 and at its oppositeend en aging a washer 15 -surroundlng the pin.- .he pin movedlongitudinally through one of the bearings 4, as clearly indicated inFigure 2, and during such movement has alternatel supplied theretowashers 16 and cutting e ements 17 which are also arranged to rotatenthereon.

The rear end of each of the pins is formed with diametrically oppositelydis osed recesses 18 forming shoulders 18', a apted to engage theslotted bearings 6 in the projec# tions 5. This permits a pin havingthecutting elements 1n position thereon to be moved from the positionillustrated in'Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1. In thisposition, the recesses 18 prevent longitudinal movement and rotation ofthe pins, as will be clearly apparent.

After. all vthe pins are inthe position illus- 95 trated in Figure 1,the keeper is moved longitudinally of the projection 7 to engage theends'of the pins by threading the end of' the driving member 8 into theprojection. During this operation, a shoulder 19 on the drivasl loo

.lng member engages the keeper and moves it bodily inwardly from thepositionv shown in Figure 2 vto that illustrated in Figure 1. Duringthis movement, va recess 20 in the wardly from the body of tating thetool having cleaning keeper is adapted to engage and receive a pm 21cm.the cleaner head to lock the parts against relative rotation.

' B vreference to Figure l of the drawings, it w1l1 be apparent thateach of thepins 12 is capable of uniform bodily. movement outthe cleanerhead in a substantially radial. direction under'the iniluenceofcentrifugal force. At the same time, the elongated spaced bearingscooperating with substantially opposite ends of the pins permit the'same to assume di'erent angular positions relative to the lono'itudinalaxis of the tube being cleaned. 'll ese features have been found to behighly desirable as opposite ends of the pins may move 1nwardly orvoutwardly diderent amounts as may be required by the conformation ofthe-tube being cleaned, or all the cleaners may be moved bodilyoutwardly uniformly under the influence of centrifugal force. Duringthis operation, vthe bearings 4 and the keeper will limit the maximumoutward or angular movement of the pins.

It will be apparent that the shape of the cleaner head may be changed toaccommodate the same for use with a smaller or greater number ofcleaning elements, depending upon the form of tubes with which thecleaneris adapted to be used. Upon roat high speedthe cutters orcleaning elements will y outwardly by centrifugal force and come intocontact with the scale, disloding it by a series of rapid strokes insuccession, the efliciency of the cleaner being proportioned to itsspeed and the quality of the scale.

I have found that the use of non-rotatable pins .is very desirable asthe length of life of the cleaner is increased thereby. Where the pinsare permitted to rotate, they tend to rapidly wear through theirbearings. At the same time, as the pins are held against rotationwithout the use of pins or rivets, they may be easily removed asdesired.

he advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of acleaner head elements which are capable of having a uniform or angularbodily outward movement.

Further advantages arise from the provisionV of a cleaning head asdisclosed herein, by reason of which the assembly of the component partsis facilitated.'

I claim:

1. Ina tube cleaner, a head, a cleaning element, means on the head forsupporting the element to be bodily movable outwardly therefrom,.theelement having a recess in at least one side thereof, and means on thehead for cooperating with such recess for holding the element againstmovement axially vof the head while in any operating posi'- tionthereon.

l 2. In a tube cleaner, a, head, a cleaning eleimagier ment, meanselement, means on the head for supporting the element to be bodilymovable outwardly therefrom, the element having recesses in oppositesides thereof, and means on the head for cooperating with such recessesfor holding the element against movement axially of the head while inany operating position thereon.

et. In a tube cleaner, a element, and means on the head for supportingthe element to be bodily movable outwardly therefrom, the `supporthaving an outward extension, the element and the -extension havingcooperating portions adapted to interlock for holding the elementagainst movement axially of the head while in any operating positionthereon.

5. In a tube cleaner, a head, a cleaning element carrier, means 'on thehead for supporting the carrier to be bodily Vmovable outwardlytherefrom, the carrier having a recess therein and the head having arecess adapted to cooperate with the recess in the carrier to preventrier and movement thereof axially of the head when in any operatingposition thereon.

6. In a tube cleaner, a head, a cleaning element, means on the'head forsupporting head, a cleaning both rotation of the car.

soy

the element to be bodily movable outwardly therefrom, a keeper forlimiting outward movement of the element, the head and the keeper`having recesses therein, means for insertion into such recesses toprevent relative rotation between the head and the keeper, and a drivingelement adapted to be connected to the head and having means forengaging the keeper to maintain the keeper in place.

7. In a tube cleaner, a head, a cleaning element, means on the head forsupporting the element to be bodily movable outwardly therefrom, akeeper for limiting outward movement of the element, a driving means forthe head rotatable relatively thereto to eHect operative connectiontherewith, the driving means abutting against lthe keeper when inoperative position to maintain the keeper in place.

8. In a tube cleaner, a head, a cleaning element, means on the head forsupporting the element to be bodily movable outwardly therefrom, akeeper for limiting outward movement of the element,` the head and thekeeper having recesses therein, means for insertion into such recessesto prevent relative rotation between the head and the keeper, a drivingmeans for the head romovable outwardly therefrom, and a keeper 10tatable relativelythereto to effect operative engaged by the drivingmeans during such connection therewith, the driving .means relativerotation and held in operative poabutting against the keeper when 1noperasition thereby for limiting outward move- 6 tive position tomaintain the keeper in place. ment of the cleaning element.

9. In a tube cleaner, a head, driving means In testimony whereof I havehereunto set 15 for the head ,rotatable relativel thereto to my hand.effect operative connection t erewith, a cleaning element mounted on thehead to be JAMES P. RODGERS.

